Oh, Woe Is Me! I'm A VICTIM!

[DaJudge]

http://images.clickability.com/partners/3810/mainLogo.gif (http://www.usatoday.com/)

http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2008/03/08/gamblerx.jpg

Arelia Taveras is seen sitting near a
fountain sculpture at the MGM Las
Vegas in Las Vegas. Taveras' gambling
got out of control and she lost nearly
$1 million at Atlantic City.

Gambler chases $20M long-shot casino suit
By Wayne Parry, Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY ? She was an ambitious lawyer and TV commentator who
starting going to Atlantic City casinos to relax, and soon was getting high-
roller treatment that included limousines whisking her to the resort.

Arelia Margarita Taveras says she was even allowed to bring her dog,
Sasha, to the blackjack tables, sitting in her purse.

But her gambling spun out of control: She said she would go days at a time
at the tables, not eating or sleeping, brushing her teeth with disposable
wipes so she didn't have to leave.

She says her losses totaled nearly $1 million.

Now she's chasing the longest of long shots: a $20 million racketeering
lawsuit in federal court against six Atlantic City casinos and one in Las
Vegas, claiming they had a duty to notice her compulsive gambling problem
and cut her off.

"They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping," Taveras said.
"I would pass out at the tables. They had a duty of care to me. Nobody in
their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without
sleeping."

Experts say her case will be difficult to prove, but it provides an unusually
detailed window into the life of a problem gambler.

"It's like crack, only gambling is worse than crack because it's mental," said
Taveras, 37, a New Yorker who now lives in Minnesota. "It creeps up on
you, the impulse. It's a sickness."

She lost her law practice, her apartment, her parents' home, and owes the
IRS $58,000. She said she even considered swerving into oncoming traffic
to kill herself.

In interviews with the Associated Press, Taveras admitted she dipped into
her clients' escrow accounts to finance her gambling habit. She was
disbarred last June, and faces criminal charges stemming from those
actions, but is trying to work out restitution agreements in order to avoid a
prison term. [DaJudge's note: She allegedly stole about $100K from clients.]

Her lawsuit names Resorts Atlantic City, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino,
Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, the Tropicana Casino Resort, the Showboat
Casino Hotel, Bally's Atlantic City, as well as the MGM Grand Hotel and
Casino in Las Vegas.

The casinos deny any wrongdoing, maintaining in court papers that Taveras
brought her problems on herself. Casino representatives either declined to
comment for this report or did not respond to repeated requests for
comment.

Last month, a judge dismissed the Trump casinos, the Tropicana, Showboat
and Bally's from the lawsuit on technical grounds, but allowed Taveras to
refile the suit against them by April. The suit remains in effect against
Resorts and MGM because its allegations against them were more specific.

Joe Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, said casino
workers undergo extensive training on spotting problem gamblers and
referring them to help, including a self-exclusion list the state maintains.
Gamblers can voluntarily bar themselves from casinos, either for a few years
or for life. While they're on the list, casinos cannot solicit them.

Dan Heneghan, a spokesman for the state Casino Control Commission, said
663 people are on the list.

"This can be a delicate situation, and it comes down to an individual's
personal responsibility," Corbo said. "We can only suggest that they receive
assistance and provide information how they can obtain help, but it is up to
them to commit to seek it."

Paul O'Gara, an attorney specializing in Atlantic City gambling issues, said it
will be difficult for Taveras to prove that the casinos knew she had a
problem but ignored it.

"How are you supposed to know whether this was a woman who was just
having a good time, or had money and was just lonely, as opposed to
someone who couldn't control themselves?" he said.

Arnie Wexler, the former head of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New
Jersey, estimates there are 5 million problem gamblers in the United States,
with 15 million at risk of becoming compulsive.

"Hers is not a rare case, believe me," said Wexler, who says he had a
gambling problem. "This is the most powerful addiction you can have
without putting something into your body. You remember your first big win,
and you think 'Hey, I can do this again; I can get it all back."'

As a young lawyer, Taveras made a name for herself representing the
families of victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed in New
York City's borough of Queens in November 2001, killing 265 people.

Her practice had 400 clients and earned her $500,000 a year. She appeared
on TV and radio to discuss legal issues, wrote a guidebook for women
dealing with deadbeat dads in the court system, titled The Gangsta Girls'
Guide To Child Support, and was a regular contributor to Hispanic culture
websites. In 2000, the New York Daily News named her one of "21 New
Yorkers to Watch in the 21st Century."

As an escape from the seven-day-a-week pressures of her law practice,
she started going to Atlantic City to unwind in September 2003.

During one five-day gambling jag at Resorts in June 2005, Taveras says,
she existed on nothing but orange juice and Snickers bars that the staff
gave her. On the fifth day, she said, a dealer told her to go home because
she appeared exhausted and unable to keep track of her cards.

Taveras spent nearly a year in clinics to treat her gambling addiction. She
filed her lawsuit last September, representing herself, and is now working at
a telephone call center in Minnesota.

"Everybody says 'You gambled and you enjoyed yourself, then lost your
money and now you want it back,"' Taveras said. "They think gambling is
fun. It isn't, believe me. Not when you get like I did."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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[CLYDE]

Hahahahaah dumb biatch. Sad part is she could win.

[DADA_JEEP]

she migt, but the casino will have it back in a week :lmao:

[CLYDE]

lol, ya think they would take her off the blacklist and let her play???

[not so Quikjeep]

They'll give her 20 mil in casino credit.

[Yucca-Man]

She lost her law practice, her apartment, her parents' home, and owes the IRS $58,000. She said she even considered swerving into oncoming traffic to kill herself.Right. Because oncoming traffic is also guilty of making her feel bad? She can go ahead and off herself, but taking innocent people with her is frakkin' lame. Grrr...

[scottycards]

The last gasp of a desperate woman.

If she'd just start turning $500 tricks in the casino, she could probably make a decent living, and support her gambling habit.

[Malamute]

The last gasp of a desperate woman.

If she'd just start turning $500 tricks in the casino, she could probably make a decent living, and support her gambling habit.

So true. I don't feel sorry for her at all. She made her decision and acted on it.

BTW, where's Rex?

[Loki]

This wasn't posted yet...

http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/4936/spongeidhitit4li.jpg

:D

[TheCopperCowboy]

Double or nothing! Let it ride! Baby needs new shoes! Oh, craps! Busted. :cool:

[sweater]

...claiming they had a duty to notice her compulsive gambling problem and cut her off.

Kinda like the Fed and Wall Street, says RE/MAX CEO (http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=87795)... :thumbsup:

- mike

[Bauer]

filed her lawsuit last September, representing herself


Isn't there some catchy saying about about this?????
Something about a fool... :rolleyes:

[SUPERGILDO43]

The last gasp of a desperate woman.

If she'd just start turning $500 tricks in the casino, she could probably make a decent living, and support her gambling habit.

im sure 500k a year is more than she would make turning tricks!!!


man talk about what goes up must come down, she had it all goin for her.

what an idiot, working at a call center now. thats gotta be a rough breath of air....

[ni0h]

The last gasp of a desperate woman.

If she'd just start turning $500 tricks in the casino, she could probably make a decent living, and support her gambling habit.

She appears to be terribly good looking, but she's so stupid, I don't know if anybody could hit it.

[Big Kev]

I don't under stand where she says gambling is like crack but worse. Was she in the street doing dirty dirty things for a few bucks to throw on a table? She says that gambling is a mental addiction. So crack is not? I know there is a physical dependence but it starts off as a mental addiction.

I hope she gets laughed out of the court room. She is wasting more money and peoples time by trying to sue for some thing she did to her self. When did she every try to get help for her addiction? After she was out the million? Don't blame other people for your problems and expect every one else to fix your problems for you.

[Dagimp]

"Nobody in their right mind would gamble for four or five straight days without
sleeping."

Its should be punishable by death to come up with stupid law suits like this. For both the lawyer and client.

[Suki]

i have an internet surfing addiction, at times i can go hours with out eating or standing... i'm going to sue colorado4x4, myspace, and google for 1 million dollars!

[jeeplvr79]

i have an internet surfing addiction, at times i can go hours with out eating or standing... i'm going to sue colorado4x4, myspace, and google for 1 million dollars!

Let's make it a class action law suit :D

[cheftyler]

She appears to be terribly good looking, but she's so stupid, I don't know if anybody could hit it.

But it's her stupidity that makes it easy to hit.

[Steve]

i have an internet surfing addiction, at times i can go hours with out eating or standing... i'm going to sue colorado4x4...

Let's make it a class action law suit :D

You ain't gonna get much from CO4x4.org. :silly:

I'm sure if Gunter was still here he'd have some reason why she's really a victim and how lawsuits are good. The tort system in this country is out of control.

[Leon Phelps]

WTF.... I gamble and I would not bitch a drop about loosing my ass off. Now when I win big......

Damn, where is a Roulette table & a 4 foot tall Margarita when you need one.

[Leon Phelps]

The last gasp of a desperate woman.

If she'd just start turning $500 tricks in the casino, she could probably make a decent living, and support her gambling habit.

Jesus, blow, gambling and hookers. My sensory nodes are in OVERLOAD. :eek:

[JKTODD]

So here's a question? Aren't bar tenders somehow liable to an extent about how drunk their patrons get? ColoradoXJ-you could probably tell us about that. I remember as a bouncer that we always had to get those that were overly intoxicated out of the bar as soon as possible. Maybe her lawsuit could somehow get a foothold with that legality to possibly win something here.:shrug:

Don't get me wrong though-she's an idiot.:)

[Steve]

So here's a question? Aren't bar tenders somehow liable to an extent about how drunk their patrons get?

Yes, but that's mainly to prevent people from driving while drunk. Driving while stupid or broke is not against the law.

[Leon Phelps]

So here's a question? Aren't bar tenders somehow liable to an extent about how drunk their patrons get? ColoradoXJ-you could probably tell us about that. I remember as a bouncer that we always had to get those that were overly intoxicated out of the bar as soon as possible. Maybe her lawsuit could somehow get a foothold with that legality to possibly win something here.:shrug:

Don't get me wrong though-she's an idiot.:)

Over serving is a BAD thing. Yes there is liability. Or it was when I was behind the bar. The key is visual inebriation also has to be the same bartender who serves the patron from "start to finish".

[DaJudge]

So here's a question? Aren't bar tenders somehow liable to an extent about how drunk their patrons get?
There is no gambling counterpart to the Dram Shop Act.

[Leon Phelps]

There is no gambling counterpart to the Dram Shop Act.

Really.... Never knew that.

[Batgirl]

But her gambling spun out of control: She said she would go days at a time at the tables, not eating or sleeping, brushing her teeth with disposable wipes so she didn't have to leave.

Ewww. Did she use Depends or did the casino provide a portapotty? :shrug:

*She lost her law practice, her apartment,
* her parents' home,
*She said she even considered swerving into oncoming traffic
to kill herself.

Selfish loser. Why not take some pills and go rot in the woods instead of taking out innocent people? IMHO, considering something like that tells a lot about her.

*She wrote a guidebook for women
dealing with deadbeat dads in the court system, titled The Gangsta Girls'
Guide To Child Support

LOL...big surprise. Baby Daddy drama; Gangsta girls are victims too!:rolleyes:

[ZappBranigan]

There is no gambling counterpart to the Dram Shop Act.

Probably because the dram shop act was supposed to protect the public, not just the drunk who gets behind the wheel. A compulsive gambler can only hurt herself (unless her family enables her to hurt them, which is what happened here.)

I agree this woman is a dim bulb and a poster child for abuse of the tort system but I also have zero sympathy for the casinos. IMO there's something low and dishonest about casinos - they cater to some of the worst vices of humanity. While they operate "fairly" as supervised by the gambling commissions of the state, they are, in essence selling a falsehood: The illusion of winning, which they "sell" to every customer, even though they know that every customer can't win.

It can be argued that they're no worse than other industries, but there's a good reason that in 49 states gambling is restricted to certain specific areas, because lawmakers are well aware of the negative externalities of gambling establishments.

[Leon Phelps]

Simple retort to Zapp's thoughts. We all make our own informed decisions, she made a stupid as hell one and does not want to man up for it. I'm sorry, the casino's have no fault in this.

When I loose a bet on a B-ball game, I don't go crying to anyone, I suck it up.

[ZappBranigan]

Simple retort to Zapp's thoughts. We all make our own informed decisions, she made a stupid as hell one and does not want to man up for it. I'm sorry, the casino's have no fault in this.

When I loose a bet on a B-ball game, I don't go crying to anyone, I suck it up.

I thought this might happen. :rolleyes: See, you're missing my whole point.

I never said she wasn't responsible for her stupid acts. Clearly she is, both legally and morally. My point was that when you legalize an industry that thrives on separating stupid people from their money by selling them this illusion, this is what you get.

To borrow a pop-culture term, casinos are "enablers." They enable people to feed their bad habits. While they may not be legally responsible for the consequences, do they not share at least some of the moral responsibility?

[scottycards]

Good observation, Zapp. Unfortunately, ethical behavior can't be legislated. Of course someone should have said, "hey lady, you're taking a beating, why don't you call it a night, here are tickets to dinner and a show, and you can come back and try your luck tomorrow"

But it just doesn't happen. I could never be a pit boss and sit there watching someone obviously ruin their life. There are plenty of people who would say that it's a business, they have an obligation to take as much as they can from people to turn a profit, they owe it to their shareholders, etc.

And that's all true.

But I sure as heck can't be a part of that kind of thinking. I couldn't look myself in the mirror the next morning.

As far as I'm concerned, the casino did nothing wrong, and this lawsuit is silly. But as far as I'm concerned, I'll never sit there and take someone's money when it's obviously destroying their life. I'll leave that to others.

[Leon Phelps]

.................. While they may not be legally responsible for the consequences, do they not share at least some of the moral responsibility?

Nope. Thats my point. Again, she MADE the decision.

EDIT: Temptation is a bitch, but self control is what it all binds down to.

[DaJudge]

As far as I'm concerned, the casino did nothing wrong, and this lawsuit is silly. But as far as I'm concerned, I'll never sit there and take someone's money when it's obviously destroying their life. I'll leave that to others.
Who says it was obvious? She's rich, she's a 'personality, she gambles and
loses. Nothing unusual. She comes back, gambles, and loses some more
just like lots of high-rollers. She loses some more (this time it's the equity
in her house) ; how's the casino supposed to know? Next time it's the
equity in her parent's house. The cash looks the same as the cash in her
first bet. Next time she brings money stolen from client trust accounts.
Money is fungible. The casino has no way of knowing it's source.

"Paul O'Gara, an attorney specializing in Atlantic City gambling issues, said it
will be difficult for Taveras to prove that the casinos knew she had a
problem but ignored it.

"How are you supposed to know whether this was a woman who was just
having a good time, or had money and was just lonely, as opposed to
someone who couldn't control themselves?" he said."

[scottycards]

Well, a 5 day jag with nothing but OJ and Snickers would be my first hint.

Heck, I can take a look at my buddies when we're gambling, and they get "crazy eyes" sometimes- they just get fixated on playing more and more.

But like I said, it can't be legislated, and I was careful to say that. Ultimately, she can piss her $$$ away if she wants.

But it doesn't take an expert of any kind to recognize someone who "has the fever", whether it's gambling, booze, or drugs.

It's pretty easy to tell who can walk away, and who can't. Walk into your local bar, and look around. I find it pretty easy to spot the people who are there to have one drink and leave, and the ones who are feeding an uncontrollable obsession.

But again, to be clear, it's not incumbent upon the casino to police her behavior. I'd like to think they would have some kind of inclination to help her out, however, although I don't think that my little idea would work out in reality- a good idea, but it can't be put into real practice.

Kinda like a screen-door on a submarine. Great idea in theory, poor idea in practice.......

[DaJudge]

Well, a 5 day jag with nothing but OJ and Snickers would be my first hint.
...
We only have her word for that. She is a disbarred lawyer who stole from her parents and her clients. No credibility issues there. She'll make a GREAT witness under oath! :flipoff2:

[Camp]

We only have her word for that. She is a disbarred lawyer who stole from her parents and her clients. No credibility issues there. She'll make a GREAT witness under oath! :flipoff2:

She is also filling suit against multiple establishments, many in the same town. How do we know that this 5 day spree is in the same casino? I highly doubt she is sitting at one table in one casino for 5 days. :shrug:

[scottycards]

Reminds me of going to bed in Vegas, and finding my buddy at the tables the next morning with a stack of comp tickets next to him. He had been there all night, losing his arse. We did get a free room and breakfast out of the deal.

I got him up, carried him to the room. I was hungover pretty bad on that drive home from Vegas, but he was hungover and BROKE. Man, he was bumming.

[Leon Phelps]

Been there, done it, have the comp chips from the Barbary Coast. Broke and the friend who's dragging everyone out.

[Leon Phelps]

You ain't gonna get much from CO4x4.org. :silly:

I'm sure if Gunter was still here he'd have some reason why she's really a victim and how lawsuits are good. The tort system in this country is out of control.

Speaking of which, where is good ol Gunter. He join the Band?

[JKTODD]

If she wins her lawsuit in anyway shape or from then I want some money back from MGM grand in Vegas! This case would be a great precident to set.:D

/sarcasm/

[Leon Phelps]

Meaning, I can sue for 15 years of voluntary gambling losses.

Schweet. Someone will be giving me at least 6 figures. I should call the strong arm.

[JKTODD]

Imagine Frank Azar's commercials now--

You've been dicked in the a-- by the Big-ol-Casinos. It's not your fault. You're a victim in all of this. Call me Frank Azar and I will get your money back plus damages.

How many little old ladies are spending their life savings at Black Hawk? I've heard stories of older people refinancing their homes and getting seconds to supply their gambling habit.

[JKTODD]

Here's another one. Vegas has advertised "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" It's in writing even. So I should advertise to all of those that have had their marriages wrecked by Las Vegas outings to come forward with a class action lawsuit.

"Yes your honor. I was on a business trip and I thought what happend in Vegas stayed in Vegas. It said that right there on the brochure. But my wife back home in Iowa found out about the hookers and blow. Then she divorced me. I'm just a victim in all of this."
:D:thumbsup:

[luvmeye22re]

hm, talk about poor self control. I get mad when I spend too much at the grocery store. And she easily looks like an $600 dollar hooker :flipoff2:

[Leon Phelps]

Imagine Frank Azar's commercials now--

You've been dicked in the a-- by the Big-ol-Casinos. It's not your fault. You're a victim in all of this. Call me Frank Azar and I will get your money back plus damages.

How many little old ladies are spending their life savings at Black Hawk? I've heard stories of older people refinancing their homes and getting seconds to supply their gambling habit.

Here's another one. Vegas has advertised "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" It's in writing even. So I should advertise to all of those that have had their marriages wrecked by Las Vegas outings to come forward with a class action lawsuit.

"Yes your honor. I was a business trip and I thought what happend in Vegas stayed in Vegas. It said that right there on the brochure. But my wife back home in Iowa found out about the hookers and blow. Then she divorced me. I'm just a victim in all of this."
:D:thumbsup:

Great stuff, no wonder I subscribe to your news letter.

[SatansFaith]

Okay, as someone who works in the casino industry...

I don't know the gaming laws for Vegas and Atlantic City, but what was quoted in the article is very close to CO Dept of Gaming regulations. If we have a patron that we feel is displaying signs of a gambling problem, we report that person to the MOD. The MOD, or the GM, or a host - or whomever in a position of authority has developed a relationship with the patron - will sit down and talk to that person, suggest that there may be a problem, and let the patron know how/where to find help. CO also has a voluntary blacklist. We can't make them not gamble and we can't disallow them from gambling simply because we suspect they have a problem; they have to ask to be banned from the casino due to a gambling problem before we can take that measure. As stated in the article, we have no way of knowing who is living beyond their means and who has that kind of money to just pi$$ away -- or even how or where a person's money comes/came from in the first place.

That said... satan and I have had days in Vegas where we've sat at a blackjack table for 18 hours, leaving only when we were so tired we couldn't see straight (and, even at that point, it was typically one of us who suddenly became "reasonable" and persuaded the other that it was time to leave the table) just to sit down 5 hours later and do it again. Even then, however, we've only ever played with money that we had and were willing to lose. To do otherwise is careless and irresponsible - she lost her *parents'* home, for pete's sake! She's going to blame that on the casino?!?